Pete Golding explains how involved FBI was with security after Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss

OXFORD — Ole Miss football did get help from someone with FBI connections to increase security in the Manning Center after Lane Kiffin's departure, but coach Pete Golding said it wasn't a dramatic scene.

Walker Jones, the director of Ole Miss' Grove Collective, said in an interview with the Assorted Crackers podcast that the FBI came to the Ole Miss football offices in the Manning Center before the CFP to sweep for listening devices.

Golding said Aug. 24 the team did not formally call the FBI. Ole Miss did have a player's connected father who lives locally check the building.

"I do think we probably have a current player whose dad just so happens to work for the FBI that lives in town," Golding said. "From that standpoint."

Golding did not identify the Ole Miss player.

Kiffin, Ole Miss' coach for six years, left before the CFP to coach the rival Tigers. As Ole Miss prepared for the CFP, some assistant coaches were being recruited to follow Kiffin to LSU.

It led to an odd scenario where coaches like offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. and running backs coach Kevin Smith helped Ole Miss in the CFP but also had to think about their future at LSU after deciding to join Kiffin. Golding has been complimentary of how Weis Jr and Smith handled the situation.

"Anytime you get in the playoff system and you have guys from this building go to other places, you want to make sure it's secure for your players," Golding said.

Golding said Ole Miss, like other teams he's been on, increased security during its playoff games. Ole Miss traveled to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl and, after beating Georgia, traveled to Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl. He said teams check trash cans and monitor internet security.

"That's been done for the history of ball, but there was no, 'Let's get the FBI in here, holy cow,'" Golding said.

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Pete Golding explains how involved FBI was with security after Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss